Projectile game



Aug'. 14, 1945.-

F. c. HAMILTON PROJECTILE GAME "Filed sept. 29, 1943 Bnventor Cttorneg Patented'Aug'. 14, 1945` UNITED vSTlHFES PATE-NT OFFICE:

PROJECTILE GAMEl C. HamiltomNewai-k, N J.

Application september 29, 1943, serial No. 04231 connes. `(C1. 4zia-101) This invention relatesA to amusement devices of the type -which include aprojectile, one object of the rinvention'being to provide Va noveland .iniproved,device of this characterwhich shall simuv lateA the circus performance- .of -shooting a -man from a cannon, the operation of which shall pro- .vide amusement and involve both skill `and chance.

`Another `object is to provide an .amusement def Vice .or game apparatus which shall comprise a novel and improved constructionand combination of target or scoring elements, for example `in simulation of trapezes, a projectile to be suspended therefrom, for-1I example a representation of a.

apparatus wherein the construction of 4said target under the impact of anobiectsuch as the proJ'eC- tile C, therewith. Preferably. the strands are formed or flexible 'material and means is provided normally to hold each strandtent between thxpoints. of connectionthereof with the standards I and to ,allow thestrand toex when it is struck Iby the projectile. n 'g1 As shown, eachof the standards' comprises a strip of suitablefmaterial such .as`woodjtha1`;` has one end secured at3 to .the base A and Tat its other end has a transverse horizontal opening 4.' Each standard is arranged at one side ofthe base in or scoring elements shall =be suc-h that the force .of .e

impact of said projectile with a targetior'scoring element shall be` compensated or partially` absorbed to obviatesuch rebounding ofthe projecl tile fas Would prevent suspension of the `projectile on `thetarget or scoringv element. Y

Other objects are to provide .aV novel andimproved projectile for amusement apparatusl of the characterdescribed;` to yprovide amusement .apparatus whichshall be simple and inexpensive in construction and which shall require a. minimurnw of materials .use of y-wl'iichis now restricted due to the current world war; and to obtain other advantages and results that will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amusement apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional View through the projector.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the projectile and Figure 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention the apparatus includesl a base A on one end portion of which is a plurality of vertical supports or standards I upon which are mounted a plurality of target or scoring elements 2. At the other end portion of the base A is a projector B for propelling against the target or scoring elements 2 a projectile C having means to engage said elements.

Each scoring element is shown as comprising a strand of suitable material which is mounted on the corresponding support standards I to yield opposed relation to astandard at theoth'er side of thebase and the opening dof each standard is in lhorizontal alinement with the corresponding opening of thel opposite standard. Suitable braces 5. :may `be provided for holdingv the sta-ndards in vertical position. i

Each strand 2 has one endslidably threaded through the4 opening 410i one of -each of twoopposed .standards i, and each end of each strand has a weight 6 attachedthereto andl suspended therefrom so that the two weights maintain-the portion ofthe `strand between the standards normally taut but Willvpermit said portion of the strand to .iexunderimpact of the projectile.4 -Of course, one weight would be sufficientV and if desired springs for other suitable means" Vmight be utilized for' the` same purpose.

jectile comprises va body 1 having a plurality of` hooks 8 pivotally connected thereto, said hooks in the present instance representing the feet and hands of a human being. As shown, the hooks at each side of the body swing in a common plane from front to rear of the body, although. the hooks may be constructed and connected to the body in any suitable manner.

The projector B comprises a barrel I0 having an interior diameter of sufficient size to receive the projectile C and within the barrel is reciprocable a spring actuated plunger or piston I I which f i normally is influenced outwardly of the barrel by a compression spring I2. The plunger is connected to a trigger block I3 that is also slidable in the barrel and has a notch Il which cooperates with the trigger I5. The trigger is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at I'6, on the by dot into en agement with the trigger I5, as shown energizehe spring I2 and to bring the notch I4 C is the'n inserted into the barrel and in contact desired, the braces 28 may be detachable at 29 d dash lines inFigure 2. ,The projectile with the plunger I I. Then the trigger is operated 1 to release the plunger, whereupon the spring and i plunger will project or shoot the `projectile out of n the barrel.

It is desirable that the projector be capable of nions 20 projecting diametricallyfrom *the barrel i and journaled in bearing standards 2 I on the base tilting so that the Aoperator may cause the proi jectile to engage one or more selected strands 2 and for this purpose the barrel I0 is pivotally vmounted on a horizontal axis as by pins or trun- A. A handle or crank 22 maybe c'onnectedto one 'of the pivot pins 20 for oscillatingthe' barrel in the bearings 2|. With this construction it vvvilljbe `seen that the barrel can/ ble ,swung in vertical planes to vary theA trajectory of` the projectile.

In use ofthe apparatus, the operator will cock the projector and insert the projectile in the barrel. He then will aim the barrelwith the idea of causing the projectile to engage one o rmo/re vof the targets or scoring strands 2, probably'selegcting the strands Vwhich have the greatestscoring value. He will then operate the trigger I8 to release the plunger II and theprojectle Vwillnbe i shotvupwardly.` If the projector is properly aimed, one or more of the hooksj of th'eproject'ile will engage and hook over one or more ,of thefstrands 2 as shown by dot and dashlines in Figure'1,. fAs

the hooks engage the strands, the weight offtl'e projectile and the force of its impact-will'cause the strands to flex betweenpthestrands I yas shown `by dot and dashlines, wherebythe forcevofA the `impact of the projectile against ,thestrands will `loe compensated or absorbed in suchl a I nanner'` I that rebound of the projectile vwill be prevented.

For convenience, the scoringA indicia ma .be placed on the weights 6 as indicatediatZS. Y

To 4enhance the simulation ofthe circusstunt as well as to in some degree restrain theprojecfrom the bracket arms so that the latter can be swung inwardly over the base into an out-of-thelway position. Y .f

Also, for convenience the base may be formed y in two sections 3l) and 3I which may be arranged 'in end to end alinement with each other as by Various modifications and changes in the details of construction of the apparatus will occur to Vthose skilled in the art as within the spirit and scope of the invention. d

What I` claim is: v l.v An amusement apparatus including a flexible strand, means vr'nounting said 'strandgat two spaced points at one of whichsaid'str'and is 'longitudinally movable, an aerial projectile 'having at least one hook to hook overjsaid strand,` and means to normally hold said'y strand taut between said points and to allowthe strandto njioVe longitudinally and flex' upon impactof said projectile therewith, wherebyA when said projectilev is projected it may become suspended upon'said strand.

2. Amusement apparatus including a base having spaced and opposed vertical support elements thereon, a plurality of horizontal exible strands that 'said 'hooked Iarms 'may simultaneously ejgage 'different,strands, and means tono'mally hold each strand taut between said two-points and tovallowl the strandto move' longitudinally 'and flex upon impact of'said'projec'tile therewith,

whereby when saidp'rojectile is projected it become suspended on one or more -of's'aid strands.

"ERANK. C. 'HAMILUNLS' 

